Ars Combinatoria

ISSN 0381-7032 (print), 2817-5204 (online)

Ars Combinatoria is the oldest Canadian journal of combinatorics, established in 1976, dedicated to advancing combinatorial mathematics through the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed research papers. Over the decades, it has built a strong international reputation and continues to serve as a leading platform for significant contributions to the field.
Open Access:  The journal follows the Diamond Open Access model—completely free for both authors and readers, with no article processing charges (APCs)
Publication Frequency: From 2024 onward, Ars Combinatoria publishes four issues annually—in March, June, September, and December.
Scope: Publishes research in all areas of combinatorics, including graph theory, design theory, enumeration, algebraic combinatorics, combinatorial optimization and related fields.
Indexing & Abstracting:  Indexed in MathSciNet, Zentralblatt MATH, and EBSCO, ensuring wide visibility and scholarly reach.
Rapid Publication: Submissions are processed efficiently, with accepted papers published promptly in the next available issue.
Print & Online Editions: Issues are available in both print and online formats to serve a broad readership.

Jizhen Yang1, Zhizheng Zhang1,2
1Department of Mathematics, Luoyang Teachers’ College, Luoyang, 471022, P. R. China
2College of Mathematics and Information Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, P. R. China
Abstract:

By means of partial fraction decomposition, the purpose of this paper is to obtain a generalization of an algebraic identity which was given by Chu in \(\textit{The Electronic J. Camb.}\), \(11(2004), \#N15\).

Yanting Liang1, Bolian Liu1
1Department of Mathematics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, P.R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a graph on \(n\) vertices \(v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_n\) and let \(d(v_i)\) be the degree of the vertex \(v_i\). If \((d(v_1), d(v_2), \ldots, d(v_n))^t\) is an eigenvector of the \((0,1)\)-adjacency matrix of \(G\), then \(G\) is said to be harmonic. A semi-regular harmonic graph is the harmonic graph which has exactly two different degrees. An equi-bipartite harmonic graph is the bipartite graph \(H = (X, Y; E)\) with \(|X| = |Y|\). In this paper, we characterize the semi-regular harmonic graph and equi-bipartite harmonic graph, and the degree sequence of equi-bipartite \(3\)-harmonic graphs.

Peter Danziger1, Eric Mendelsohn2, Gaetano Quattrocchi3
1Department of Mathematics Ryerson University Toronto, ON M5B 2K3 Canada
2Department of Mathematics University of Toronto Toronto, ON M5S 3G3 Canada
3Dipartimento di Matematica Universita di Catania Catania, Italia
Abstract:

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a resolvable \(4\)-decomposition of \(AK_n\), in the case where \(H\) is one of the 10 graphs obtained by the union of two paths of length 2, with two possible exceptions. In particular, we complete the \(4\)-star (\(\lambda\)) and \(T\) (\(\tau\)) for higher \(\lambda\) and give complete solutions for resolvable decompositions into Fish (\(4\)-\(3\)), Mulinetto (\(hx\)) and Kites (\(BSI\)). In the cases of the Fish and Mulinetto the solution is obtained \(1\)-rotationally.

Yuan Xudong 1
1Department of Mathematics Guangxi Normal University, 541004, Guilin, P.R.China
Abstract:

We note that with only a slight modification, Su’s proof on the fragments in \(k\)-critical \(n\)-connected graphs (see J. Graph Theory \(45 (2004), 281-297\)) can imply the following more general result: every non-complete \(W\)-locally \(k\)-critical \(n\)-connected graph has \(2k + 2\) distinct fragments \(F_1, F_2, \ldots, F_{2k+2}\) such that \(F_1 \cap W, F_2 \cap W, \ldots, F_{2k+2} \cap W\) are pairwise disjoint.

Hung-Lin Fu1
1Department of Applied Mathematics National Chiao Tung University Hsin Chu,Taiwan
Abstract:

A packing of a graph \(G\) is a set of edge-disjoint \(4\)-cycles in \(G\) and a maximum packing of \(G\) with \(4\)-cycles is a packing which contains the largest number of \(4\)-cycles among all packings of \(G\). In this paper, we obtain the maximum packing of certain graphs such as \(K_{2m+1} – H\) where \(H\) is a \(2\)-regular subgraph, \(K_{2m} – F\) where \(F\) is a spanning odd forest of \(K_{2m}\), and \(2K_{2m} – L\) where \(L\) is a \(2\)-regular subgraph of \(2K_{2m}\).

EB. Kilic1, D. Tasci2
1TOBB Economics AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT 06560 ANKARA TURKEY
2Gazi UNIVERSITY, MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT, 06500 ANKARA TURKEY
Abstract:

In this paper, we consider the relationships between the second order linear recurrences, and the generalized doubly stochastic permanents and determinants.

Nick C.Fiala1
1Department of Mathematics St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN 56301
Abstract:

An \(\lambda\)-design on \(v\) points is a set of \(v\) subsets (blocks) of a \(v\)-set such that any two distinct blocks meet in exactly \(\lambda\) points and not all of the blocks have the same size. Ryser’s and Woodall’s \(\lambda\)-design conjecture states that all \(\alpha\)-designs can be obtained from symmetric designs by a complementation procedure. In a previous paper, the author established feasibility criteria for the existence of \(\lambda\)-designs with two block sizes in the form of integrality conditions, equations, inequalities, and Diophantine equations involving various parameters of the designs. In that paper, these criteria and a computer were used to prove that the \(\lambda\)-design conjecture is true for all \(\lambda\)-designs with two block sizes with \(\lambda \leq 90\) and \(\lambda \neq 45\). In this paper, we extend these results and prove that the \(\lambda\)-design conjecture is also true for all \(\lambda\)-designs with two block sizes with \(\lambda = 45\) or \(91 \leq \alpha < 150\).

M. Esmaeili1, V. Ravanmehr1
1Department of Mathematical Sciences Isfahan University of Technology 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract:

The binary linear code \(H^\bot_{m,2}\), \(m > 2\), of length \(\binom{m}{2}\) represented by the generator matrix \(H_{m,2}\) consisting of all distinct column strings of length \(m\) and Hamming weight \(2\) is considered. A parity-check matrix \(H^\bot_{m,2}\) is assigned to the code \(H^\bot_{m,2}\). The code \(H_{m,2,3}\), \(m > 3\), of length \(\binom{m}{2} + \binom{m}{3}\) represented by the parity-check matrix \(H_{m,2,3}\) consisting of all distinct column strings of length \(m\) and Hamming weight two or three is also considered. It is shown that \(H^\bot_{m,2}\) and \(H_{m,2,3}\) are optimal stopping redundancy codes, that is for each of these codes the stopping distance of the associated parity-check matrix is equal to the minimum Hamming distance of the code, and the rows of the parity-check matrix are linearly independent. Explicit formulas determining the number of stopping sets of arbitrary size for these codes are given.

Ying Xu1, Jixiang Meng1
1College of Mathematics and Systems Science, Xinjiang University, Urumdai, Xinjiang 830046, P. R. China
Abstract:

For a finite group \(G\) and subsets \(T_1, T_2\) of \(G\), the Bi-Cayley digraph \(D = (V(D), E(D)) = D(G, T_1, T_2)\) of \(G\) with respect to \(T_1\) and \(T_2\) is defined as the bipartite digraph with vertex set \(V(D) = G \times \{0, 1\}\), and for \(g_1, g_2 \in G\), \(((g_1, 0), (g_2, 1)) \in E(D)\) if and only if \(g_2 = t_1 g_1\) for some \(t_1 \in T_1\), and \(((g_1, 1), (g_2, 0)) \in E(D)\) if and only if \(g_1 = t_2 g_2\) for some \(t_2 \in T_2\). If \(|T_1| = |T_2| = k\), then \(D\) is \(k\)-regular. In this paper, the spectra of Bi-Circulant digraphs are determined. In addition, some asymptotic enumeration theorems for the number of directed spanning trees in Bi-Circulant digraphs are presented.

Jianchu Zeng1, Yanpei Liu1
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, BEIJING JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY BEIJING 100044, P. R, CHINA
Abstract:

The genus of a graph \(G\), denoted by \(\gamma(G)\), is the minimum genus of an orientable surface in which the graph can be embedded. In the paper, we use the Joint Tree Model to immerse a graph on the plane and obtain an associated polygon of the graph. Along the way, we construct a genus embedding of the edge disjoint union of \(K\) and \(H\), and solve Michael Stiebitz’s proposed conjecture: Let \(G\) be the edge disjoint union of a complete graph \(K\) and an arbitrary graph \(H\). Let \(H’\) be the graph obtained from \(H\) by contracting the set \(V(X)\) to a single vertex. Then

\[\gamma(K) + \gamma(H’) \leq \gamma(G).\]